Drilling machine



ET AL 2,240,

' DRILLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 21, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. S. MORGAN, JR.,

May 6, 1941.

May 6, 1941.

J. s. MORGAN, JR.', ETAL 2,240,795

DRILLING MACHINE 2 Shee ts-Sheet- 2 Filed Jan. 21. 1938 Patented May 6, 1941 Gillett, Inglewood, Calm, asslgnors to The National Supply Company, Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Pennsyl Application January 21, 1938, Serial No. 186,122

4 Claims. This invention relates to feeding devices for machine tools and is particularly adapted for embodiment in a drilling or boring machine as usedfor drilling holes longitudinally through members of great length. The drill stems and kellys employed in the art of rotary well drilling are commonly upwards of fifty feet in length and require a small hole, a few inches in diameter, through-- out this entire length. A drilling machine embodying our invention has been found particularly applicable for boring the holes for these members.

The principal object of our invention is to provide a feeding device for a drilling machine hav- I ing great flexibility of operation and in which either one or both of a pair of cooperating feed elements may be actuated to control the advance or retrieval of the tool.-

Another object of our invention is to .provide a drilling machine having a pair of cooperating feed elements and a thrust indicating mechanism operatively engaging one of the elements to provide a measure of the end thrust reaction thereon, which thrust reaction is incident to the feeding movement of the drill tool.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

Figure 1' is a diagrammatic side elevation of a drilling machine embodying our invention and showing the general relation of parts in the entire device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly'in section of a portion of the device showing the rotary head for the work piece and the feeding device for the drill tool.

Figure 3 is a fragmental sectional view of the rotary driving head and stufilng box shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation taken on the line H as shown in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail view showing the auxiliary motor and magnetic brake.

The drilling machine as shown in Figure 1 consists essentially of two drilling units I and 2 arranged to operate simultaneously from both ends of a rotating work piece 3. The unit 2 is provided with wheels 4 so that it may be moved relative to the stationary unit I in order to accommodate work pieces 3 of diiferent lengths. Clamps 5 are provided to secure the unit 2 to the foundation or sub-structure 6 s0"that during drilling operations, the units l and 2 remain at a fixed distance apart. One or more steady-rests I may be provided to rotatably support the work piece 3 intermediate the drilling units.

- Only the unit I will be described, for as far as this invention is concerned, theunit 2 is sub stantially a duplicate. Reference to Figure 2- shows a stationary base 6 upon which is mounted a rotary driving head 3. Bearings 13 and II support the head 3 upon the base 6 and the customary radially adjustable chuck jaws l2 and i3 secure the work piece 3 to the head 9. A change speed transmission I4 driven from any suitable means, such as a motor I5, is adapted to rotate one of a plurality of gears l6 secured .to the head 9, and thereby rotate the work piece 3.

Formed on the base 6 are a pair with guides l6 which cooperate with the ways [1 to maintain the carriage I6 and base 6 in proper ,clamps- 2| and 22. Bearings 24 and 25 rotatably support the driving sleeve 20 on the carriage l8. A bevel gear 26 is secured on the sleeve 23 and is adapted to be driven by a bevel pinion 21, shown in dotted lines on Figure 2. The bevel pinion 21, in turn, is driven from a pulley 23 which is belt connected to a motor 23 supported on the carriage l6. The motor 23 may be mounted on pivots 36 and adiusting screws 3| to provide for adjustment of belt tension.

Splined to the-driving sleeve 20, as by keys 32 and 33, is a drive collar 34 which carries opposed bevel gears 35 and 36 at its ends. The collar 34 is adapted to slide lengthwise for a limited distance upon the sleeve 20 to mesh one or the other of the gears 35 or 36 with the mating bevel gear 31 (see Figure 4). a cam- 39 in the groove 46 to hold the collar 34 in the desired position. A releasable pin 4| in the crank handle cooperates with any one of three holes in a side wall" 42 of the carriage l6, to

mesh the gear 31 with either one of the gears 35 or 36 or to maintain the collar 34 in neutral po- An idler pinion (not shown) is used in the conventional manner to form a driving connection between cooperating gears in groups 44 and 46. Carried on the worm shaft 46 intermediate the of horizontal" ways I1 upon which a frame or carriage I6 is slidably mounted. The carriage I6 is provided.

A shifter crank 36 operates supporting bearings 41 and 48 is the worm gear or pmion 48 which is adapted to drive the worm wheen 50. The pinion 48 and worm wheel 50 are preferably of the non-reversing type wherein the pinion may drive the worm wheel but the worm wheel cannot drive the pinion. A feed nut 5| is rotatably supported in bearings 52 mounted on the carriage l8. The worm wheel 50 is mounted pn the feed nut 5| between the bearings 52 and is held against relative rotation by means of a key 53. A feed screw 54 is supported at one end forms the dual function of rotating the drill rod 23 and also feeding it relative to the work piece 3. Shifting of the collar 34 results in reversal of feed only, the direction of rotation remaining unchanged. For starting the tool 58 into the work piece' 3, or if desired for any other reason, feeding of the drill rod 23 may be manually accomplished by means of'the feed-crank 59.

The auxiliary motor 51 is mounted on the base 8, and as illustrated in the drawings, is provided with a speed reduction unit 68 from which the power take-off shaft 56 extends. The auxiliary motor 51 is further provided with amagnetic brake 51a of the usual construction, which acts to prevent rotation when themotor 51 is not operating. In this way the feed screw 54 is normally held against rotary movement, so that ro tation of the feed nut 5| results in longitudinal movement of the carriage l8, and does not tend to turn to feed screw 54.

However, if it is desired quickly to retrieve the drill tool 23 from the work piece 3, or to advance it at a greater rate of feed, the motor 51 may be the drilling may proceed at the most eficient rate. A novel device for obtaining a reliable indication of this pressure is shown clearly in Figure 2. The feed screw 54 is held against longitudinal inward movement at its forward end, where the .thrust collar 81 engages the side of the bearing box 55. The other end of the feed screw 54 is supported in a spline connection 68 which cannot absorb end-thrust. A rotatable thrust collar 69 is mounted adjacent the spline connection 68 and' this collar 69 abuts the end of a lever 10 pivoted at 1| on a bracket 12 on the base 8. The other end of this lever 10 is pivotally connected to the piston 13 which works in a closed fluid cylinder 14 carried on the base 8. A pressure gage 15 is connected to the cylinder 14. to indicate the fluid pressure therein. The end-thrust due to pressure on the cutting tool 58 is taken through the carriage l8 to the feed nut 5|, and from the feed nut 5| to the feed screw 54. This reactive endthrust on the feed screw 54 is measured by means of the collar 69, pivoted lever*10, piston 13 and cylinder 14, and gage 15,

A coil spring 16 may be provided between the cylinder 14 and piston 13 as shown to hold the parts in operative relation. The location of the pivot 1! can be varied, as shown, to provide for various drill sizes, rates of rotation and feed, etc. Another feature of this pressure'indicating device is that it may be utilized automatically to reverse the feed when the pressure becomes excessive. An electrical switch 11, which may be of common construction, operates in conjunction with the gage 15 and automatically starts the auxstarted by pressing the proper button in. the control switch 6|. ("S, R, and F indicate stop, reverse, and forward, respectively.) The motor 51 rotates, the feed screw 54 at a relatively high rate of speed, quickly retrieving or advancing the drill too1 23. Since the feed screw '54 revolves at a greater rate of speed than the feed nut 5|, the rotation of the motor 51 governs the direction of movement of the carriage l8, irrespective of whether the motor 28 is rotating the feed nut 5| or not. It will be obvious that if both motors 23 and 51 operate simultaneously, a differential rate of feed or retrieval will be obtained.

In order to prevent over-travel of the carriage llupon the ways l1, automatic stop switches 82 and 83 are provided on the base 8. Lugs 84 and 1 65 on the carriage 18 are adapted to trip these switches when the carriage reaches the end of its normal movement in either direction, and hence prevent possible injury to the mechanism. The switch 82 operates to stop the feed motor 29, and the switch 83 is similarly connected to stop the auxiliary motor 51. This arrangement is preferred, since in the particular machine illustrated, the carriage I8 is normally advanced by the motor 28 and retrieved by the motor 51. The switch box" is provided for re-setting of the switches 82 and 83.

It is often necessary or desirable for the openter a, know what pressure exists between the cutting" tool 38 and the work piece 3-inorder that iliary motor 51, upon the gage pressure reaching a predetermined maximum, and thereby reverses the direction of feed. The switch box 18 is provided for re-setting of the electric switc 11.

The drill rod 23 is preferably of a hollow construction .so that the customary cutting fluid may be supplied to the drilling tool 58. In the construction illustrated, this cutting fluid is pumped by the pump 19 up through the conduit and into the stufling box 8| through which the drill rod 23 operates. This fluid cools the drilling tool 58 and removes the cuttings, carrying them back through the holes 82 in the tool 58 and through the inside of the drill rod 23 to the buggy 83, where the cuttings are collected. The fluid then drains back to the sump 84 and tie-rod 85 to the carriage 18, so that the buggy 83 moves with the drill rod 23 as the latter is fed into the work piece 3. A conduit 86 having a valve 81 is connected to the inlet conduit 80, and I can be used to supply another fluid, for example compressed air, to the drilling tool 58 either independently or in conjunction with the cutting fluid.

Since the drilling units l and 2 are substantially duplicates, the complete operation of our device will be understood from a description of the operation of the unit l only. The drilling unit 2 is secured in the proper position to accommodate the work piece 3 through which a hole is to be drilled. One or more steady-rests 1 are arranged between the drilling units I and 2, and are clamped in position to act as rotatable supports. Rotation is imparted to the work piece 3vby means of motor l5 and chuck jaws l2 and 13 on the rotary head 8. The end of the work piece 3 is faced off and the hole started by means 58 is then positioned in this hole and the stuffing box assembly 8| bolted into position.

The carriage I8 is moved to the end of its travel away from the rotary head 9, and the drill rod 23 is then secured relative to the drive sleeve by means of the clamps 2|, 22. The fluid pump 19 and the motor 29 are started, and when circulation has been established, the tool 58 may be fed into the work piece 3 by means of the hand crank 59. When the hole has progressed to a sufiicient depth, the idler pinion (not shown) is placed in operative position between one gear in the group 44 and one in the group 45, and the shifter crank 38 may be moved to cause the motor 29 to feed the tool 58 into the work piece 3. During this normal drilling operation the auxiliary motor 51 remains at rest, thus holding the feed screw 54 from rotation.

Should the pressure on the drill tool 58 become excessive, either because of a high rate of feed,

feed to retrieve the tool 58 in a, manner similar to the automatic reverse; should-break, the pressure falls off sharply and If the drill tool 58 then begins to build up steadily. the operator observes this sudden fall in pressure he can reverse the feed before the automatic retrieval.

takes effect.

Accidental oven-travel oi the carriage I8 upon 5 the ways 11 is prevented by the automatic,

switches 62 and 63, as set out above. In normal operation, when the carriage l8 reaches the end of its forward travel upon the ways H, the motor 29 is stopped and the clamps 2| and 22 are released from the drill rod 23. The carriage l8 is then moved back to its starting point, preferably by operating the auxiliary motor 51, and the clamps 2| and 22 are secured to the drillrod'l'1 in a new position. 11' necessary, the drill rod 23 may be lengthened by adding sections to-its outer end. When the two cutting tools 58 approach each other near the middle of the work piece 3, one is stopped and retrieved, while the other is allowed to break through .to complete the hole.

supported on said carriage and adapted to rotate the nut upon the screw to advance the carriage relative to said base, auxiliary drive means on said base operatively associated with said feed screw, a control switch for said auxiliary drive means, thrust measuring means associated with said feed screw adapted to measure the thrust reaction imparted by said feed nut, said thrust measuring means being adapted to actuate said control switch upon the reaction thrust reaching a predetermined maximum, such actuation of the control switch acting automatically to cause the auxiliary drive means to rotate'the screw within the nut to stop the forward advance of the carriage. 2. In a device for controlling the feed of a drill tool, having a stationary base, a carriage slidably mounted thereon, and a drill tool mounted on said carriage, the combination of a nut rotatably supported on said carriage and held against longitudinal movement relative thereto, a screw rotatably mounted on said base and adapted to cooperate with said nut, a drive motor supported on said carriage and adapted to cause relative rotation between the nut and the screw to advance the carriage upon the base, an auxiliary drive motor supported on the base and adapted to rotate said screw, a thrust bearing on said base adapted to prevent longitudinal movement of the screw under influence of the thrust reaction imparted by said nut, and control means for said auxiliary motor responsive to the degree of thrust received by said thrust bearing. 3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a base, a carriage guided for longicarriage adapted to rotate the feed nut upon the relatively stationary feed screw to advance the carriage uponthe base, means associated with the feed screw and adapted to resist the thrust reaction imparted to the feed screw by the feed nut, said means including a fluid-body under a pressure proportional to said reaction thrust, and gaze; means associated with said fluid body and adapted to provide a measure of said reaction The relative highrate of feed provided by the auxiliary motor 51 may be utilized for reaming or other operations, either independently or in conjunction with the slower feedprovided by the motor 28'.

Having iully described our invention, it is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is oi the full scope of the appended claims.

1. In a device for controlling the feed oi! a drill tool, having a stationary base, a carriage slidably mounted thereon, and a drill tool mounted on said carriage, the combination of a nut rotatably supported on said carriage and held against longitudinal movement relativethereto, a screw rotatably supported on said base and adapted to cooperate with said nut, drive means thrust.

In a device of the class described, the coinbination of a base, a carriage guided for longitudinal movement on said base, feed means for ,said carriage including a feed screw mounted on said base and a cooperating feed nut rotatably mounted on said carriage, drive means on said carriage adaptedto rotate the feed nut upon the pressure proportional to said reaction thrust, and

means responsive to variations in said fluid pressure adapted to change the rate of relative rotation between the feed screw and feed nut.

301m s. MORGAN, JR. mm L. GILLETT. 

